Hanging on in Lake Delton

Even though the resorts at Lake Delton have taken it on the chin since the lake drained in June, business has picked up considerably for other attraction in the Dells area. That's according to Tom Diehl of the Tommy Bartlett Show, who says a concerted public relations campaign this summer has paid off. He says the majority of Dells businesses have been able to avoid an economic disaster.

However, he says water dependent businesses have suffered. Lake resorts have seen business drop off by 50 to 70 percent. The Tommy Bartlett Show, which is still performing without its famous ski acts, has seen attendance drop by 90-percent.

Still, he says many are hanging on with the promise that the lake will be restored by next summer. The project to refill Lake Delton is said to be on schedule to make that happen.